As an arborist I have frequently been asked to “top” people’s trees. People want their trees topped for several reasons: safety concerns, vista pruning, aesthetics or height reduction. This request prompts a conversation about the practice of tree topping and the hazards associated with it.

Trees in our landscapes are not only beautiful but they provide countless benefits that can enrich our lives. These benefits extend well beyond backyard aesthetics and go on to include health implications, improved energy efficiency, and community-wide effects.

The dormant season is a great time of year to prune your trees, Sandra. This is basically from October through May. In the dormant season, the leaves are off so it is easier to see structural defects within the canopy of your tree. It is also a time of year when there are fewer insect and disease issues that sometimes or attracted to fresh pruning wounds. Sometimes customers have concerns about our cruise being able to identify dead limbs when there are no leaves. This is done by looking closely at the bark and if needed, the color of the cambium layer with a small scratch on the bark of each branch. Long story short: Now is a great time to trim your trees!